Parliamentary questions
John Park
411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider ways to tackle occupational segregation when developing the recently announced 75,000 training places.
Answer · Keith Brown: The recently announced 75,000 figure represents the total number of beneficiaries detailed by the project sponsors of 78 successful European Social Funding projects for Lowlands and Uplands Scotland.</p> <p >Each project sponsor will be responsible for consi…
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the next steps from Section 3.11.1 of the Tackling Occupational Segregation in Scotland: A Report of Activities from the Scottish Government Cross-Directorate Occupational Segregation Working Group report it will be taking forward and what the timescale is for the implementati…
Answer · Alex Neil: We are hoping to take forward all of the next steps and can report the following progress to date:</p> <p >A network of officials throughout the Scottish Government is working in partnership with stakeholders, such as <i >Close the Gap</i>, to take forward t…
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a national database to record the number of adults with autistic spectrum disorder, requiring every local authority to record standardised statistics, enabling them and national organisations to identify need accurately and target services effectively and what th…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25120 on 15 July 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament…
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the importance of accurately recording the number of adults with autistic spectrum disorder in each local authority area to ensure that service provision can be adequately and appropriately targeted and supported.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In 2008 the Scottish Government issued guidance to commissioners of health and social care services for people on the autism spectrum, recommending that local authorities and health boards work together to identify and keep a record of people with autism spec…
10 Jun 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the measures agreed at the apprenticeship summit held on 28 April 2009 will be implemented.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0618-01.htm">http://www.scot…
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much income was generated annually by the tolls on the (a) Forth and (b) Tay bridges.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: For 2006-07, the last full year of tolling, the income from tolls on the Forth Road Bridge was £11.87 million. On the same basis the income from tolls on the Tay Road Bridge was £3.63 million.</p>
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of (a) installing and (b) removing the refurbished toll plaza on the south side of the Forth Bridge.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the Forth Road Bridge, including the former toll plaza on the south side, is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA). </p> </d
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual running costs of the Forth and Tay bridges (a) were before and (b) have been since the removal of tolls.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Responsibility for the operation of the Forth and Tay bridges, including annual running costs, is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) and the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board in the first instance.</p>
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many redundancies were caused by the removal of the tolls from the Forth and Tay bridges.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Responsibility for staffing at the bridges is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) and the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board.</p>
18 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make additional funds available to Perth and Kinross Council to introduce traffic-calming measures to meet the needs of increased road usage caused by traffic diverted from the Forth Road Bridge.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have no plans to provide additional funds to Perth and Kinross Council for this purpose. The joint Scottish Government/COSLA concordat sets out the terms of the relationship between the Scottish Government and local government, which includes an agreement o…
18 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any plans to remove the A977 from the primary road network.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans to alter the designation of the A977.</p>
7 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the almost £95 million from the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund announced in its news release on 18 April 2009 was from funding released by revaluation.
Answer · Jim Mather: Funding from the 2007-13 European Structural Funds programmes has been allocated to Scotland in Euros. The allocation for each round is based on the Sterling value of the programme at the time of the round, subject to the receipt of eligible and high-quality …
7 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out a revaluation of the Scottish European Regional Development Fund programme.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23650, on 18 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…
7 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the funding from the European Regional Development Fund announced in its news release on 18 April 2009 included funds released by currency fluctuations.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23650 on 18 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bu…
7 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out a revaluation of the Scottish European Social Fund programme.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23650 on 18 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bu…
7 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the funding from the European Social Fund announced in its news release on 18 April 2009 included funds released by currency fluctuations.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23650 on 18 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bu…
31 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003, whether it will examine the legality of inserting clauses in the title deeds of properties stipulating that homeowners must pay for the maintenance of open spaces in their developments.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The drafting of the constitutive deed which sets out the real burdens (for example in relation to the maintenance of open spaces in a development) is part of the conveyancing process carried out by a solicitor and during which both the sellers and the purchas…
31 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it intends to take to address the inequity between residents who are legally bound to pay a private company for the upkeep of communal open spaces in their development and residents in the same local authority area who do not pay for this service as it is provided by the local …
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Planning authorities are in the best position to determine the most appropriate arrangements for each new development. The Scottish Government issued an updated Planning Advice Note 65: <i >Planning and Open Space in June 2008</i> which stresses the importanc…
17 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a minimum number of redundancies that must be announced by a business to ensure Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) team support.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: From this year, there is no longer a minimum number of redundancies that must be announced by a business to ensure Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) team support. The Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland are in the process of …
12 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to support employment opportunities in the creative industries.
Answer · Michael Russell: <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0312-01.htm">http://www.scot…
26 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the completion rates were for adult apprenticeships in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table provides a full breakdown of adult apprenticeship achievements claimed between 1 April 2003 and 31<sup> </sup>March 2008.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap rowspan=2 valign=bottom > <p …
26 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the completion rates were for apprenticeships in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table provides a full breakdown of all MA achievements claimed between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2008.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=center >Local Authority Ar…
26 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the completion rates were for adult apprenticeships in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21443 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…
26 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the completion rates were for apprenticeships in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21442 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…
26 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many adult apprentice starts have been recorded in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table provides a full breakdown of all MA20+ starts entered to Skills Development Scotland''s Management Information (MIS) system between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2008.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <t…
26 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprentice starts have been recorded in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table provides a full breakdown of all modern apprenticeships starts entered to Skills Development Scotland''s Management Information (MIS) system between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2008.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <the…
26 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many adult apprentice starts have been recorded in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21439 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…
26 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprentice starts have been recorded in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to answer question S3W-21438 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/…
12 Feb 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on its work addressing the impact of violence and abuse in the workplace on the mental and physical health of betting shop workers.
Answer · Shona Robison: I would like to make it clear that acts of violence and abuse against anyone working in a public facing role are unacceptable. It is a key responsibility of employers to protect their staff from harm in the workplace.</p> <p >The Cabinet Secretary for Justic…
3 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering allowing service personnel to establish a local connection to the location at which they are based in order to allow access to social housing and, if so, what progress has been made in this regard.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20378 on 9 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…